A RESTAURANT has been given the go ahead to open up to 1am despite opposition from councillors and residents.

The Kara Lounge and Grill in Fleming Road, Chafford Hundred, formerly opened at noon and shut no later than midnight, but Thurrock's licensing committee has given the go ahead for the restaurant to stay open from 11am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Ward councillors and residents objected to the licence extension on the grounds of noise and nuisance from customers leaving the restaurant late at night.

There were also concerns over increased parking pressures.

Residents claimed there was "little respect given to them or their families by the restaurant owner or its patrons and the anti-social behaviour was affecting the well-being of the residents".

The restaurant had been allowed to stay open in the past until 2am. At the hearing, agent David Dadds told residents: "You might move next to a pub that's fairly quiet and it might then change its tenancy and becomes much more popular. The thing is when you move next to a pub. If you know it has a licence until 2am then you know potentially it could trade to 2am.

"Every resident here has come after we have been there with a licence to 2am in that location. That location has been approved for possibly 16 years to those hours."

Despite granting the application the council made it clear any extra noise and nuisance could mean a licence review.

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The committee said: "It was advised, whilst not part of their final decision, the licensing sub-committee reminded the premises licence holder that complaints of noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour were always taken seriously and noted that should any future issues arise from the operation of this licence then residents, councillor's, or responsible authorities could make an application for a licence review at any time."

The restaurant has been open since 2002.

It was formerly a Chinese restaurant.

The committee heard there had been no complaints against the restaurant from police or environmental health.

The license lapsed for administrative reasons and has been running on an application for a basic 11pm closing time.